Clasp



G. H. ROBERTS July 17, 1928.

CLASP Filed May 24, 1927 I INVEN TOR. $e'o /y'eWa6e/16:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ROBERTS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB TO B. A. BALLOU & 00., INC.,.OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A. CORPORATION 0F RHODE ISLAND. v

oLA'sr.

Application filed May 24, 1927. Serial No. 193,799.

bly connected together, one of the jaws being provided with a tooth or spur on its inner surface to engage and bite the side of the shoe or other material to be gripped between it and the opposite jaw. 5

A further object of the invention is to form the clasp or connectonwith a body jaw which is toothless on its biting surface and a cooperating lever. jaw having a single penetrating'tooth on its biting surface, means being provided for pressing these jaws toward each other to firmly grip the material to which the connector is to be attached between the jaws and to also providemeans on the connector by which it may be attached to the strap or the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a strap connector of this character having a body member. forming one gripping jaw, this member having a front wall, edge walls, a rear wall and an intermediate resilient wall and to also provide a cooperating lever jaw which is pivoted in the rear'wall' and pressedby said resilient wall towards closed position to force thespur or tooth which is formed on the gripping surface of the lever jaw to grip the shoe or material to which it is to be attached against the body jaw.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruction, as will be more fully d escribed, and particularly pointed out 1n the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a strap attachedto the side edges of a shoe by means of the strap connector members at either end thereof.

Figure 2'is a perspective view showing the under side of one of the clasps or strap connectors with the jaws separated.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the outer shell portion of the body jaw. v

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the outer shell portion of the body jaw.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of'the lever aw. i I Figure 6 is a top view of the lever jaw.

Figurev 7 is a plan view of the under side of the body back plate. j

Figure-'8 is a section on line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the intermediate body spring plate.

c Figure 10 is a sectional view of the lever jaw as pivotally mounted'in thebody jaw.

Figure 11 is a sectional elevation on line 1111 of .Figure 10 showing. the inclined side walls of thebody jaw by which the back plate and intermediate plates are retained in their set'positions. v

Figure 12 is a sectional elevation illustr ating the clasp or strap connector asattached to the edge of a shoe upper;

' It is found in providing a' connector or clasp for connecting the ends of a shoe strap to the side edges of a' shoe, of advantage to form the gripping face of the outer jaw smooth or toothless so as not to abrade, disfigure or injure the outer surface of the shoe permitting it to be subsequently worn without the strap, if desired; also it is found ofimportance to provide a tooth on the biting face of the inner jaw for pcntrating the inner surface or wall'ofthe shoe so that it will effectually prevent the clasp orcconnector from'slipping from the shoe to release the strap even when the latter is under a heavy strain which is often the case when the wearer is walking or dancing. Then again, by the provision of a single gripping tooth on the inner surface of the clasp or connector it is permitted a pivoting motion to rock back and forth onthe edge of the shoe and follow the vibrating or swinging motion of the band due to the moving muscles of the foot while walking or dancing and so bythis pivoting motion on the sin le tooth to prevent abrading or unduly somewhat inclined inwardly toward the front wall, as best shown in Figure 11 and into this body port-ion is set a spring plate 14 its edges resting against these inclined walls 12 andis spaced a short distance from the front wall 11. The rear wall 15 of the body is set in position in the body with its marginal edges resting against the inclined edge walls 12 and the edges of these walls are rolled over as at 16 onto the back plate 15 to bind it securely in position. This back plate is provided withan opening 17 through it through which the end of the lever jaw, presently described, extends and is provided with transverse recesses 18 on its under side on opposite sides of the opening 17, also its rear end is turned inwardly as at 19 to rest against the back of the front plate and form a spacer for this end of the back plate.

The lever jaw 20 of this clasp is provided with an inwardly turned neck portion 21 to extend through the opening 17 in the back plate 15 and is'provided with a pair of latorally-extending pivot arms 22 which engage the recesses 18 in theinner face of the back plate. This neck portion is provided with a slight extension 23 beyond these pivot pins to engage and rest upon the resilient plate 14 in the body jaw thereby causing the lever jaw to be pressed to. closed positionv and at the same time permitting it to be swung back to open position and retained in this posi tion when desired.

When this clasp Or -connector is employed for attaching the ends of a strap such as an instep strap to a shoe, it is found of ad vantage to form the body jaw without teeth so as not to injure the finish of the outside surface of the shoe upper to which it is attached and it is also found of advantage to provide a tooth 24 on the inner face of the lever jaw which is preferably cut and raised from the stock of this jaw and is set to pitch or extend on an angle in the direction of pull or towards the rear of the clasp where the strap is attached so that it will penetrate the material of the inner surface of the shoe and positively prevent accidental withdrawal of the clasp therefrom even while under severe strains upon the strap due to walking and dancing.

Inorder to provide simple and elfective means for attaching this clasp or connector to the band 25, I roll this extending portion 13 up into eye-form to engage a corresponding bar in the band by which arrangernent the clasp or connector is flexibly or pivotally attached in position.

My improved clasp or connector is very simple and practical in construction and is effective in its operation and by its use the ends of .the band, strap or similar device may be quickly attached to a shoe or other article and will strenuously resist being accidentally withdrawn therefrom until the jaws are separated permitting a ready removal from its operating position.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but

I desire it to be 'understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A strap connector comprising a body having a front plate with side walls, a diaphragm spring in said body, a back plate having its edge engaging the side walls and held in position by the folded-in edge'of said side walls, one of said plates having an eye for attachment to the strap,bearings in said back plate, a lever jaw having pintles in said bearings and swingable towards and 2. A strap connector comprising a body having an outwardly bellied front plate with side walls, a diaphragm spring spanningthe bellied portion of said front plate and bendable thereinto, a back plate having its edge engaging the side walls and spaced from said spring, said back plate being held in position by the folded-in edge of said side walls, one of said plates being extended and having an eye'for attachment to the strap, hearings in said back plate, a lever jaw having pintles in said bearings and swingable towards and from said back plate to clamp between it and the back plate an article to which it is desired to attach said strap, and a tongue portion on said lever engaging said spring to be forced thereby into clamping position or when said lever is swung thru substantially 90 to then force or hold said lever in open position. v

3'. A strap connector comprising a body having an outwardly bellied front plate with outwardly inclined flaring side walls, a diaphragm spring spanning the bellied portion of said. front plate and bendable ther-einto, a back plate having its edge engaging the flaring side walls at a position to space it from said spring, saidback plate being held in position by the folded in edge of said side walls, one of said plates being extended and formed into an eye for attachment to the strap, bearings in said back plate, a lever jaw having pintl-es in said bearings and swingable towards and from said back plate to clamp between it and the back plate an article to which it is desired to attach said strap, and a tongue portion on said lever engaging said spring to be forced thereby into clamping position or when said lever is swung thru substantially 90? to then force or hold said lever in open position.

LA strap connector comprising a body having an outwardly bellied front plate with side walls, a diaphragm spring spanning the bellied portion of said front plate and bendable thereinto, a back plate having its edge engaging the side walls and spaced from said spring, said back plate being held in position by the folded-in edge of said side walls, one of said plates being extended and formed into an eye for attachment to the strap, a lever jaw pivotally supported in said back plate and having a tongue to engage said spring, and a spur on said lever jaw to engage the article to which it is desiredto attach said strap and assist 1n holding against a tension on the strap.

5. A strap connector comprislng a body havlng a pa1r of plates, a dlaphragm spring carrying bearings to clamp between it and the plate an article to which it is desired to attach said strap, a tongue portion on said lever engaging said spring to be forced thereby into'clamping position or when said lever is swung thru substantially 90 to then force or hold said lever in open position, and

a spur on said aw inclined to resist the pull of said strap on said attaching eye.

In testimony whereof I aflix my slgnature. Y

GEORGE H. ROBERTS. 

